Improvements in or relating to carriers

ABSTRACT

A carrier (10) for containers, such as coffee cups, is described. Carrier (10) is generally in the form of a tray (11) and includes a pair of retainers for a respective container. At least one of the retainers comprising a stepped holding region (22) in or near base (21) for the container wherein the container may be releasably held. Retaining means having at least one, typically curved, wall connected to base (21) are provided to assist releasable holding of the container.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed to improvements in or relating to carriers. More particularly the invention is directed to improvements to carriers for drink or beverage containers.

BACKGROUND ART

The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

The problem of waste, and what to do with it, is a global one. For the disposal of waste, many countries rely on a mixture of burying the waste as landfill, recycling a proportion of it (to the extent that the materials are susceptible to recycling), burning or incinerating it, which can result in the production of smoke and toxic gases presenting a potentially serious hazard to health and contributing to global warming/climate change and, even more horrifically, dumping waste in the ocean and in other waterways.

Each of those solutions, of itself, creates another problem, especially for the environment, and as populations rise and land becomes more scarce, the waste disposal problem will only become even more dire.

Even in sophisticated countries such as Australia, where regulations and education abounds concerning the proper disposal of waste products, the problem is escalating. The recent announcement by China that it is banning the import of foreign waste is already placing significant strain on the resources of local councils, government, and the recycling industry more generally in Australia.

Australia for one does not have the necessary infrastructure to process much of the waste such as paper, cardboard, plastics, bottles and other household waste formed from materials that are generally characterised as recyclable.

This is resulting in enormous stockpiles of recyclable waste which continue to grow each day, with no immediate prospect of the waste being processed or re-processed. It has in fact been speculated in recent media and in expert circles that kerbside collection of recyclable waste could come to an end, at least until Australia has the capacity to deal with it in a responsible fashion.

This will also have an impact on consumer behaviour, with even responsible types being less likely to separate recyclable waste from from other waste if they know that their efforts will be to no avail.

It is therefore fair to say that a recycling crisis is looming, and is possible already upon us as a global family. The only obvious immediate solution is to send recyclable waste to landfill, which is far from optimal at it takes up valuable land, and results in the burying of many synthetic materials which have no prospect of breaking down and returning to nature.

In the context of the manufacture of products from paper, it is estimated that Australians ‘consume’ in the region of 5 million tonnes of paper per year. This requires the felling of millions of trees, with the consequent damage to environments where tree felling forms part of an economic way of life with little regard for the damage being caused to the environment.

Some of that paper goes to the construction of cardboard trays for carrying coffee cups. The ritual of the morning, and afternoon, coffee run is becoming ubiquitous. It has been observed that many of the trays are simply discarded after a single use, and can end up as landfill if recycling or reprocessing is unavailable. Often cardboard trays have a treated surface, which retards the ability of the cardboard to break down in a normal manner or within a suitable timeframe.

The present invention aims to provide an alternative approach to carriers for containers, such as coffee cups, which is believed to be more suitable for user needs.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In the context of the present invention the term ‘container’ is intended to encompass any receptacle capable of receiving a fluid, a drink or a beverage, such as cups, mugs and bottles of varying height, width or dimension, and including those of a non-cylindrical nature.

In one aspect the present invention provides a carrier for containers, the carrier including a pair of retainers for a respective container, at least one of the retainers having a stepped holding region for the container wherein the container may be releasable held.

In another aspect the present invention provides a carrier for containers, the carrier including a pair of retainers for a respective container, each of the retainers having a stepped holding region for the container wherein the container may be releasably held.

In another aspect the present invention provides a carrier for containers, the carrier including a plurality of retainers for a respective container, at least one of the retainers having a stepped holding region for the container wherein the container may be releasably held.

In another aspect the present invention provides a carrier for containers, the carrier including a plurality of retainers for a respective container, each of the retainers having a stepped holding region for the container wherein the container may be releasably held.

Retainers according to the invention will typically be connected to each other by means of a bridge or a web. The retainers may be releasably connected to each other. Preferably the retainers are integrally connected whereby to form a substantially rigid container structure.

A retainer according to the invention may take any suitable form. It will typically adopt the general external shape of at least part of the container to be releasably held therein.

A stepped holding region according to the invention may take any suitable form. Typically a plurality of steps, or stepdowns, will be provided in the region of the base of the retainer. The base will typically act to facilitate seating of the container in the retainer once positioned.

A step will preferably have an inner perimeter or circumference which is marginally greater than an outer perimeter or circumference of the base of a container placed in the carrier. This arrangement facilitates something approximating an interference fit to be applied to the base of a container placed and seated in the retainer, whereby the outer perimeter or circumference of the container base is placed in intimate contact with a corresponding step of a slightly greater dimension.

A step or stepdown according to the invention may partially or fully surround the base of a container to be held therein. A step may be segmented around its perimeter or circumference. In a preferred embodiment a step has a continuous perimeter or circumference.

The steps or stepdowns will typically be recessed. The steps or stepdowns may be non-concentric. Non-concentric steps or stepdowns may permit containers of varying dimensions to be received and releasably held in a retainer.

A retainer according to the invention will typically include at least one wall. The wall may be continuous. It may be discontinuous. It may be segmented. The wall will typically be upwardly extending. It may taper outwardly in an upward direction so as to conform to or approximate the generally upwardly and outwardly tapering of some cup designs.

A wall portion will accordingly typically be formed in approximately the same general shape of at least part of a container to be retained therein so as to mirror, track or complement the general external perimeter shape or circumference of part of the container.

In one typical embodiment a retainer according to the invention comprises curved inner and outer walls.

A wall according to the invention may include one or more holes or slots. The holes or slots may be oriented substantially vertically.

A retainer according to the invention may include retaining means. The retaining means may be in the form of a finger, prong or tongue capable of contacting part of the container when placed in the retainer. The finger, prong or tongue will typically be sufficiently pliable, compressible or flexible to enable a container to be passed into the retainer and held by contact with the finger, prong or tongue, the finger, prong or tongue acting to exert a retaining pressure on or to an outer face of the container.

A finger, prong or tongue may be disposed at any suitable angle relative to the container to be placed in a retainer. It may be oriented in a substantially vertical axis or plane in a rest position. It may be oriented in a substantially horizontal axis or plane in a rest position. It may be disposed at an angle to a horizontal axis or plane.

A finger, prong or tongue will typically be connected to the base of the retainer.

A retainer according to the invention will typically have at least one, and preferably a plurality of, fingers, prongs or tongues to facilitate retention of the container in the retainer.

The carrier will typically be in the form of a tray. The tray will typically have a structural support, platform or framework to facilitate the formation of a substantially rigid carrier.

The tray may be generally symmetrical about a substantially longitudinal and/or a substantially vertical axis or plane.

A carrier according to the invention will typically be formed from a plastics material. The plastics material is preferably a recycled or recyclable plastics material. The plastics material selected will preferably provide the carrier with sufficient rigidity to enable the carrier to be held and transported by hand without undue bending, flexing or instability for the containers held therein. Typical examples of preferred plastics materials are recycled polypropylene, polyethylene or PET, and mixtures thereof.

The carrier will typically be integrally formed in a single piece. It may be formed by any suitable technique, including by molding, such as injection molding as is known in the art. It may be at least partly formed by 3-D printing. Other suitable known formation techniques are envisaged within the scope of the invention.

In another aspect the present invention provides a carrier for containers, the carrier including a plurality of retainers for a respective container, each of the retainers having a base comprising a stepped holding region for the container and at least one wall having a pliable, compressible or flexible finger, prong or tongue connected to the base wherein the container may be releasably held.

In another aspect the present invention provides a carrier for containers, the carrier including pairs of opposed retainers for respective containers, each of the retainers having a base comprising a stepped holding region for the container and at least one wall having a pliable, compressible or flexible finger, prong or tongue connected to the base wherein the container may be releasably held.

Some cups, such as coffee cups, have a circumferential rim which extends downwardly from the base of the cup. To accommodate the seating of such cups, the stepped holding region may comprise a ridge having an outer perimeter or circumference which is marginally smaller than an outer perimeter or circumference of the circumferential rim extending downwardly from the base of the cup placed in the carrier. This arrangement facilitates something approximating an interference fit to be applied to the rim extending downwardly from the base of such a cup placed and seated in the retainer, whereby the inner perimeter or circumference of the rim extending downwardly from the cup base is placed in intimate contact with a corresponding ridge of a slightly smaller dimension.

Although not considered critical to the invention, carriers according to the invention will typically be capable of holding two or more containers. In one preferred embodiment the carrier is capable of holding at least four containers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Notwithstanding any other embodiments that may fall within the scope of the present invention, an embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a carrier for containers according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a carrier according to one embodiment of the invention with containers of different shapes releasably held therein;

FIG. 4 is an underside view of the central disc of a carrier according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view close-up view of the carrier of FIG. 1 which shows the pop-out nature of the central disc of the carrier, and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the underside of the carrier of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

For the purposes of illustration, the description which follows primarily relates to containers in the form of substantially cylindrical, upwardly tapering disposable coffee cups of the typical kind dispensed from cafes, coffee shops and takeaway restaurants.

It will however be appreciated that other forms and shapes of container, and other substantially complementary forms and shapes of retainer, are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention.

The invention is thought to be particularly suited to containers in the form of takeaway coffee cups, and the types of containers typically used for dispensing products from McDonald's restaurant outlets, such as soft drinks, coffee, McFlurrys, sundaes and thick shakes.

It is also thought capable of holding Frank Green reusable cups, KeepCups, Joco cups, and beverage cups used for dispensing products from Starbucks or similar coffee/beverage enterprises, and from 7-Eleven outlets including Slurpees and coffee.

It is also thought suitable for holding bottles of wine, baby's bottles, children's drink bottles and sippy cups, squeeze-type sauce bottles, beer bottles and cans.

Turning to the drawings, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 depict a carrier 10 for containers. Carrier 10 is, in the embodiments shown, in the form of a substantially symmetrical tray having an integral structural support, platform or framework 11 and a central disc 16.

A plurality of pairs of opposed retainers 12, 13, 14, 15 are provided for a respective container (not shown in FIG. 1 or 2 but illustrated in FIG. 3). Bridges or webs 50, 51, 52, 53 surround central disc 16 and provide edge boundaries for curved inner walls 20 and to connect retainers (also characterised as retaining means) 12, 13, 14, 15 in an integral fashion.

In the embodiments shown, each retainer has a substantially circular base 21, and a stepped holding region 22, to enable a container to be seated in base 21.

As can be seen from the plan (FIG. 1) and perspective views (FIG. 2) of carrier 10, the stepped holding region comprises three recessed, substantially circular, but non-concentric steps which are continuous and circumferential to base 21.

Each step of stepped holding region 22 has an inner perimeter or circumference dimension which is marginally greater than an outer perimeter or circumference of the base of a container of complementary shape placed in carrier 10. This arrangement facilitates something approximating an interference fit for the base of a container placed and seated in a retainer 12, 13, 14, 15, whereby the outer perimeter or circumference of the container base is placed in intimate contact with a corresponding step of a slightly greater dimension.

The series of steps or stepdowns in the base of each retainer 12, 13, 14, 15 are accordingly very specific in dimension or diameter, in order to effectively retain varying cup sizes, particularly those of smaller size.

Although not illustrated in the embodiments shown, some cups, such as coffee cups, have a circumferential rim which extends downwardly from the base of the cup. To accommodate the seating of such cups, the stepped holding region 22 may comprise a ridge having an outer perimeter or circumference which is marginally smaller than an outer perimeter or circumference of the circumferential rim extending downwardly from the base of the cup placed in the carrier 10.

This arrangement facilitates something approximating an interference fit to be applied to the rim extending downwardly from the base of such a cup placed and seated in a retainer 12, 13, 14, 15, whereby the inner perimeter or circumference of the rim extending downwardly from the cup base is placed in intimate contact with a corresponding ridge of a slightly smaller dimension.

Retainers 12, 13, 14, 15 are further prescribed by curver inner wall 20 which extends upwardly and tapers away from base 21, and curved outer wall segment 23, which also extends upwardly and tapers outwardly from base 21. As can be seen from the Figures, walls 20 and 23 are joined, but are segmented.

In the embodiments shown, curved inner wall 20 includes a pair of fingers, prongs or tongues 25, 26, whilst curved outer wall also carries a finger, prong or tongue 24. Fingers, prongs or tongues 24, 25, 26 are sufficiently pliable, compressible or flexible to enable a container to be passed into a retainer 12, 13, 14, 15, seated in base 21, and held by contact with the fingers, prongs or tongues 24, 25, 26, the fingers, prongs or tongues 24, 25, 26 acting to exert a retaining pressure on or to an outer face of the container.

Tray 11 is in the embodiment shown formed from a recycled polypropylene material. That material has been found to provide or impart the desired structural rigidity to tray 11 whilst permitting its use for the formation of other elements of tray 11 including the base of the retainers 12, 13, 14, 15, stepped holding region 22, and fingers, prongs or tongues 24, 25, 26.

As the steps or stepdowns serve primarily for the retention of smaller sized cups, when the steps or stepdowns are placed in the centre of base 21, pliable fingers, prongs or tongues 24, 25, 26 don't reach the mid- to upper sides of the cups, principally due to molding limitations. The steps or stepdowns are therefore offset from the centre so that 2 of the fingers, prongs or tongues 24, 25, 26 touch the sides of, and support, the cup.

Pliable fingers, prongs or tongues 24, 25, 26 are, in the embodiments shown, joined at the top and bottom of curved inner and outer walls 20, 23 for strength and to maintain a closed base 21 to catch liquid if a beverage is spilt from a container.

The base of fingers, prongs or tongues 24, 25, 26 extend inwardly as far to the cups as they can without limiting larger cup sizes. The upright of finger, prong or tongue 24, 25, 26 is then drafted out at approximately 1°, allowing it to extend inwardly as far as it can so to reach narrower cup sizes as it rises.

Also in the embodiments shown, fingers, prongs or tongues 24, 25, 26 have a long substantially vertical section that acts as a spring when needed to move out of the way following the application of manual finger pressure to the container in a retention or release phase.

As a larger cup is placed in retainer 12, 13, 14, 15, it touches the top of fingers, prongs or tongues 24, 25, 26, which have a lead-in section to encourage outward deflection, which then pushes down on the substantially vertical section which in turn bends out and away, allowing the top to rotate outwardly and downwardly.

The tops of fingers, prongs or tongues 24, 25, 26 move away from the main body of the finger, prong or tongue 24, 25, 26 at a near vertical angle to allow them to rotate down and out of the path of movement of the container.

Holes or slots 26, 28 on either side of fingers, prongs or tongues 24, 25, 26 are provided to give them freedom from the main body of the finger, prong or tongue and to allow them to flex. Holes or slots 27, 28, from top to bottom, typically have a minimum of a 3-5° angle between them to allow for tooling shut-off.

FIG. 3 illustrates the versatility of carrier 10 in being able to accommodate cups and containers 30, 31, 32, 33 of differing shapes, heights, and dimensions.

FIG. 4 shows the underside of a typical central disc 16 according to one embodiment of the invention. Disc 16 is removable from carrier 10, and includes a cross-brace 40 in the shape of an ‘X’ or a cross and toothed legs or projections 41, 42, 43, 44 enabling it to be removably attached to carrier 10 by finger pressure to lever disc 10 out/away from carrier 10 as shown in FIG. 5.

Apart from assisting in providing structural rigidity to carrier 10, it presents a vehicle for advertising, and can be used to print data such as, by way of example, a corporate logo, or an environmental message onto it instead of having to deboss carrier 10 and create a new tool. Its removable nature permits that component to be sent to a printer, to have a logo or other indicia affixed, and have it returned for reattachment to carrier 10.

The underside of carrier 10 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 includes strengthening ribs or fins 60 to assist in providing overall structural support to carrier 10.

In use, the designated purchaser of, for example, a morning round of coffees for an office, takes carrier 10 from a stored place in the office, or is otherwise presented at purchase with a carrier 10 from the outlet from which the coffees are to be purchased, such as a cafe, coffee shop or takeaway restaurant.

Coffee cups are pressed by applying manual finger pressure to them into retainers 12, 13, 14, 15 of carrier 10, pass pliable, compressible or flexible fingers, prongs or tongues 24, 25, 26, and are seated in respective bases 21.

Due to the close circumferential fit between the inner circumference of steps of stepped holding regions 22 and the outer circumference of the coffee cups, and the pressure exerted to outer wall of the cups by fingers, prongs or tongues 24, 25, 26, the cupos are seated snugly in their respective retainer bases 21 and are prevented from moving. The cups may be released once they arrive back at their destination by an upward application of manual finger pressure to pass the cups beyond fingers, prongs or tongues 24, 25, 26 and to thereby withdraw them from carrier 10.

By reason of its construction, and the reusable nature of carrier 10 as described, it is thought to contribute to the container carrier/tray art.

Alterations and Modifications to the Embodiments

Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described herein. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2018900763 filed 8 Mar. 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 

1-18. (canceled)
 19. A carrier for containers, said carrier comprising at least one pair of opposed retainers for releasably receiving and holding a respective container, said opposed retainers being connected to each other, said opposed retainers each having a base comprising a stepped holding region for receiving part of a container, said opposed retainers each further comprising an inner and outer wall extending upwardly from said base, said outer wall partially surrounding said base, said outer wall having retaining means for retention of a container, wherein said container may be releasably held.
 20. A carrier according to claim 19, wherein said inner and outer walls are curved.
 21. A carrier according to claim 19, wherein said stepped holding region comprises a plurality of steps.
 22. A carrier according to claim 21, wherein said plurality of steps are substantially circular.
 23. A carrier according to claim 22, wherein said plurality of steps are substantially non-concentric.
 24. A carrier according to claim 19, wherein said retaining means includes a pliable, compressible or flexible finger or prong.
 25. A carrier according to claim 19, wherein said inner wall further includes retaining means for said container.
 26. A carrier according to claim 25, wherein said retaining means includes at least one pliable, compressible or flexible finger or prong.
 27. A carrier according to claim 19, wherein said carrier is capable of holding two or more containers.
 28. A carrier according to claim 19, wherein said carrier is capable of holding four or more containers.
 29. A carrier according to claim 19, said carrier being in the form of a tray.
 30. A carrier for containers, said carrier comprising at least one pair of opposed retainers for releasably receiving and holding a respective container, said opposed retainers being connected to each other, said opposed retainers each having a base comprising a stepped holding region for receiving part of a container, said stepped holding region comprising a plurality of substantially non-concentric steps to facilitate receipt of container bases of differing dimensions, and retaining means having at least one wall connected to said base, wherein said container may be releasably held. 